Jana Armstrong’s Car Was Found Abandoned Before Dawn—What Happened Next Sh-ocked an Entire Community
When Jana Armstrong’s white Hyundai Kona was found abandoned in the middle of a quiet Toowoomba street before dawn, her family immediately knew something was terribly wrong.
The 30-year-old mother was nowhere to be found. Her four-month-old baby—whom she was still breastfeeding—had been left behind inside the family home, something her loved ones say she would never have done voluntarily.
That abandoned vehicle would become the first major clue in what has since become one of Queensland’s most heartbreaking alleged domestic violence cases.
The Car That Raised Alarm
At about 6 a.m. on July 8, Jana’s 2019 white Hyundai Kona was discovered abandoned roughly 500 metres from her Newtown home.
Inside the house remained her infant son with Jana’s former partner.
Jana herself had vanished.
Her sister, Faith Isaacs, said she knew immediately that something was terribly wrong because there was simply no way Jana would have walked away from her baby.
Adding to the family’s concerns, Faith received text messages from Jana’s phone after she disappeared, but now believes those messages may not have actually been written by her sister.
Their Last Time Together
Only one day earlier, Jana had shared brunch with Faith.
The sisters had become inseparable after losing both of their parents several years earlier.
“We were more than just sisters. We were best friends,” Faith said.
Looking back, she now believes there were subtle signs that something wasn’t right during that final meeting.
Police later alleged Jana was killed later that same day.
Police Track the Missing Vehicle
As the search intensified, investigators released CCTV footage showing Jana at the café shortly before her disappearance.
Police also traced the movements of her Hyundai Kona.
According to investigators, the vehicle travelled through several locations around Toowoomba—including Rangeville, Preston and Darling Heights—before returning to Newtown during the early hours of July 8.
Authorities appealed for anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage of the vehicle to come forward.
Family Refused to Give Up
While police searched multiple bushland locations, Jana’s family organized their own search parties alongside friends, colleagues and volunteers.
Hope slowly faded as each day passed without answers.
Before another community search could begin, two pig hunters made a devastating discovery after their dogs located a body in bushland south of Toowoomba.
Police later confirmed it was Jana.
Arrest Follows Discovery
Hours after the discovery, detectives arrested Dharminder Singh, a 48-year-old taxi driver.
He has since been charged with murder (domestic violence offence) and arson relating to Jana’s vehicle.
The charges remain allegations, and he has not entered a plea. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
A Sister’s Promise
Now caring for Jana’s four-month-old son, Faith says she will raise him as if he were her own.
After losing her own baby earlier this year, she described the heartbreaking reality facing the family:
“It’s like we’ve swapped babies.
She’s holding my baby, and I’m holding hers.”
The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of support across Toowoomba, with thousands of dollars raised to help Jana’s son and floral tributes continuing to appear outside her home.
Sources
ABC News Australia
Queensland Police Service